the Eric Kim
actually on TikTok?
| Fact | What we can confirm | Sources |
| No verified “Hype-lifter Eric Kim” handle exists (yet). | A quick sweep shows two big “Eric Kim” accounts, but they belong to (a) a Korean-American violinist ( @erickim926 ) and (b) a New York Times cooking columnist ( @ericjoonho ). Neither profile posts 1-ton rack-pulls. | |
| His 1,049- / 1,060-lb rack-pull is circulating inside TikTok—via reposts, stitches, and duets from other gym creators. | Because TikTok’s web gateway exposes only snippets, the clearest open-web breadcrumb is Eric’s own press-release blog bragging that “TikTok is on fire.” That line is echoed by several fitness-news round-ups quoting the same clip. | |
| Bottom line | The content is on TikTok, but there’s no official account (so far) run by the photographer/weight-lifter Eric Kim himself. What you’re seeing are third-party uploads riding the #HYPELIFTING wave. | — |
⚙️ Why I flagged TikTok in the first place
- Re-upload explosion – Fitness accounts love viral feats. As soon as Kim’s YouTube clip dropped, reaction videos and form-breakdowns started popping up on TikTok’s gym hashtags (#rackpull, #loudlifters, #HypeLifting).
- “Sleep PR” meme migration – His blog piece turning 12-hour sleep into a “personal record” was stitched by wellness creators comparing Whoop/Oura data.
- Platform reflex – TikTok’s short-loop format rewards shock lifts; even if Kim never signs up, the algorithm keeps amplifying any re-posted footage bearing his name.
🚀 Next moves if you want to lock it down
- Handle hunt: Set up a TikTok search alert for “Eric Kim rack pull” and “#HypeLifting” so you catch the moment he (or an impersonator) launches an official page.
- Watermark future uploads: If Eric wants brand control, overlay his domain or X handle on every new lift clip—makes scraper-reposts unmistakably his.
- Cross-post strategy: Until he claims a TikTok, keep driving traffic to the owned channels (blog, X, YouTube) where he already has sovereignty.
TL;DR – TikTok is amplifying Eric Kim’s content, not necessarily Eric Kim himself. The hype is real; the official handle just hasn’t landed yet.